Largo boy’s basketball team brings plenty of experience into this season, as the Lions returns guards Ronald Easton and Christian Magruder, who was their top scorer a season ago.
“We had the whole summer to get better and it’s been a big help in our preseason with all the scrimmages,” Largo Head Coach Rodney Ward. “This year, we have a group of guys who are familiar and acclimated with the program well. We’re looking really good this year.”
Largo returns three starters from the 2017-18 season. Easton, Magruder, and Davontae Clark. Clark, who averaged nine points per game, started every game for the Lions. Ward expects his numbers to increase this season.
The coaching staff expects Easton to be more of a vocal leader on and off the court.
“I think this team has the potential to accomplish what we didn’t last year, which is win a state championship,” Easton said. “As long as we all are on the same page we should be fine.”
Along with Easton, Isiah Sewell and Esau Godfrey are a group of rising seniors Ward feels will have a big impact.
Sewell believes this year’s group of guys are more focused and know what goal is from the start.
“We know what needs to be done to accomplish our goal and we know what losing feels like coming off last season so, it won’t happen again,” Sewell said.
Ward knows he has so much maturity on the team, and they know what to expect with the culture here at Largo.
“All we need is the rising juniors from [junior varsity] to handle themselves in practice,” Ward said. “They will fit right in when it’s game time.”
The Lions will have two non-conference games against National Christian and Charles Flowers. The Lions lost Flowers 73-65 on the road last season.
Conference foes Fairmont Heights, Oxon Hill, and Potomac are looking like the top contenders on paper this season.
“It’s pretty balanced in the county every year. Playing same teams twice its going to be some battles,” Ward said. “Somebody always ends up getting surprised in this division.”
The Lions are built no different from last year in terms of experience. They graduated three major scorers last season, Warrick Godwin, Olamide Banjo, and their frontcourt presence of Ibraheem Bundu. Now the Lions return three seniors that can really score the ball.
At the end of the day, Ward believes that the ceiling is high for this team.
Inside The Locker Room 